Hope, Alaska
Encyclopedia
Hope is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Kenai Peninsula Borough
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
. As of the 2000 census
the population was 137.
Hope lies on the northern end of Kenai Peninsula
, on the south shore of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet
. The community lies on the 17-mile Hope Highway, northwest of the Seward Highway
, near the mouth of Resurrection Creek. Winter temperatures range from 14 to 27 °F; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65 °F. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 51.8 square miles (134.2 km²), of which, 51.7 square miles (133.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.15%) is water.
.
There are two community associations.
The Hope Community Library was established in 1987. It resides in the Historic Hope schoolhouse, originally built in 1938.
of 2000, there were 137 people, 77 households, and 35 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2.6 people per square mile (1.0/km²). There were 175 housing units at an average density of 3.4/sq mi (1.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.97% White
, 0.73% Black
or African American
, 2.19% Native American
, 1.46% Asian
, and 3.65% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 77 households out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.5% were non-families. 53.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.78 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 16.1% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 40.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $21,786, and the median income for a family was $24,432. Males had a median income of $0 versus $37,656 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $9,079. There were none of the families and 11.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 100.0% of those over 64.
Hope is accessible from the Seward Highway. The state-owned Hope Airport
has gravel
airstrip measuring 2,000 by 90 feet (610 x 27 m). Both nearby Anchorage
and Kenai
offer a variety of transportation services.
Taxes: Sales: 3% (Borough), Property: 6.5 mills (Borough), Special: None
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Kenai Peninsula Borough
Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
-National protected areas:* Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge ** Chiswell Islands** Tuxedni Wilderness* Chugach National Forest * Katmai National Park and Preserve ** Katmai Wilderness...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
the population was 137.
Geography
Hope is located at 60°55′10"N 149°38′31"W (60.920280, -149.64028) (Sec. 33, T010N, R002W, Seward Meridian). Hope is located in the Seward Recording District.Hope lies on the northern end of Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
, on the south shore of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
. The community lies on the 17-mile Hope Highway, northwest of the Seward Highway
Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
, near the mouth of Resurrection Creek. Winter temperatures range from 14 to 27 °F; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65 °F. Average annual precipitation is 20 inches.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 51.8 square miles (134.2 km²), of which, 51.7 square miles (133.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.15%) is water.
History
"Hope City" was a mining camp for Resurrection Creek, established in 1896. The Hope post office began operating in 1897. Portions of the town were destroyed in the 1964 Good Friday EarthquakeGood Friday Earthquake
The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake, the Portage Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on Good Friday, March 27, 1964...
.
There are two community associations.
The Hope Community Library was established in 1987. It resides in the Historic Hope schoolhouse, originally built in 1938.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 137 people, 77 households, and 35 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2.6 people per square mile (1.0/km²). There were 175 housing units at an average density of 3.4/sq mi (1.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.97% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.73% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.19% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.46% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.65% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 77 households out of which 15.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.5% were non-families. 53.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.78 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 16.1% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 40.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $21,786, and the median income for a family was $24,432. Males had a median income of $0 versus $37,656 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $9,079. There were none of the families and 11.7% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 100.0% of those over 64.
Public services
Approximately one-fourth of homes use individual water wells and septic tank systems, and are fully plumbed. The school operates its own well water system. Many homes in this area are used only seasonally. The Borough provides a refuse transfer site in Hope. Electricity is provided by Chugach Electric Association. There is one school located in the community, attended by 14 students. Local hospitals or health clinics include Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna (262-4404) or Anchorage hospitals. Hope is classified as a highway village, it is found in EMS Region 2J in the Kenai Peninsula Region. Emergency Services have highway and air access. Emergency service is provided by volunteers. Auxiliary health care is provided by Hope/Sunrise EMS (782-3174/3630): Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna or Anchorage hospitals.Economy and transportation
The school and local retail businesses provide the only employment in Hope. Recreational gold prospecting, including gold panning, metal detecting, and dredging is available. Some commercial mining activities continue today. A small sawmill is used by the community. Two residents hold a commercial fishing permit.Hope is accessible from the Seward Highway. The state-owned Hope Airport
Hope Airport (Alaska)
Hope Airport is a state owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Hope, in the Kenai Peninsula Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska...
has gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
airstrip measuring 2,000 by 90 feet (610 x 27 m). Both nearby Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
and Kenai
Kenai, Alaska
Kenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 7,464...
offer a variety of transportation services.
Taxes: Sales: 3% (Borough), Property: 6.5 mills (Borough), Special: None